The geology map shows a simplified version of the geology at a national scale. More information is available in the report [https://www.bgs.ac.uk/africaGroundwaterAtlas/atlas.cfc?method=ViewDetails&id=AGLA060003 UN (1988)] and in reports from the work carried out by [https://www.bgr.bund.de/EN/Themen/Wasser/Projekte/laufend/TZ/Burundi/burundi_fb_en.html?nn=1546392 BGR] and BRGM, which includes a map of groundwater potential of Burundi (see References section, below).

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The geology map shows a simplified version of the geology at a national scale.

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More information on the geology of Burundi is available in the report [https://www.bgs.ac.uk/africaGroundwaterAtlas/atlas.cfc?method=ViewDetails&id=AGLA060003 UN (1988)], and in reports from work carried out by [https://www.bgr.bund.de/EN/Themen/Wasser/Projekte/laufend/TZ/Burundi/burundi_fb_en.html?nn=1546392 BGR] and BRGM, including a map of groundwater potential of Burundi (see References section, below).

Revision as of 17:54, 5 February 2019

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One of the smallest and most densely populated countries in Africa, Burundi was an independent kingdom for over 200 years until the early 20th century. In the colonial era it was colonised first by Germany, and after the First World War by Belgium, and governed with present day Rwanda as Ruanda-Urundi until independence in 1962. Initially, independent Burundi was a monarchy, but after a period of civil and military unrest the monarchy was abolished and a one-party republic established in 1966. Burundi has continued to experience multiple periods of unrest, sometimes with violence between the Hutu and Tutsi cultural groups, including two periods in which genocide was identified, first in the 1970s and then in the 1990s. Since the 1990s Burundi has had a multi-party state, but has continued to experience periods of political and military unrest, such as disrupted presidential elections and a coup attempt in 2015. After the International Criminal Court (ICC) began to investigate potential human rights crimes by the country, Burundi left the ICC in 2017.

Decades of civil and military unrest has left the national infrastructure in very poor state, including water and sanitation services. Burundi has a mostly rural population, largely employed in subsistence agriculture, but high population density and lack of land access mean many farmers can’t support themselves. Pressure to increase agricultural land has resulted in widespread deforestation. Export earnings are also dominated by agriculture (mainly coffee and tea), but these account for only a small proportion of GDP. External aid accounts for over 40% of the national income. Burundi has resources of a number of metal minerals but to date has a relatively small mining industry, of which gold provides the biggest export income. Most of the country’s electricity is produced by hydroelectric power.

With relatively high rainfall, Burundi has relatively abundant water resources, but because rainfall and surface water are unevenly distributed both spatially and seasonally, and because water supply infrastructure is poor, there is significant pressure on water resources. Most rural communities rely on groundwater, including numerous natural springs.

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Geographical setting

Burundi. Map developed from USGS GTOPOPO30; GADM global administrative areas; and UN Revision of World Urbanization Prospects. For more information on the datasets used to develop the map see the geography resource page)

Climate

These maps and graphs were developed from the CRU TS 3.21 dataset produced by the Climatic Research Unit at the University of East Anglia, UK. For more information see the climate resource page.

Surface water

Burundi has relatively abundant surface water resources, because of high rainfall and storage in marshes and lakes. A dense
hydrographic network means that it has a high hydroelectric potential. Among the internal rivers are the: Kaburantwa, Kagunuzi, Mpanda, Murembwe, Mugere, Mubarazi, Muhira, Mutsindosi, and Ruvubu rivers. There are also large areas of marshes, and the major lakes Cohoha and Rweru (African Development Fund 2005).

Major surface water features of Burundi. Map developed from World Wildlife Fund HydroSHEDS; Digital Chart of the World drainage; and FAO Inland Water Bodies. For more information on the datasets used to develop the map see the surface water resource [age

Soil

Soil Map of Burundi, from the European Commission Joint Research Centre: European Soil Portal. For more information on the map see the soil resource page

Land cover

Land Cover Map of Burundi, from the European Space Agency GlobCover 2.3, 2009. For more information on the map see the land cover resource page

Area equipped for irrigation by mixed surface water and groundwater (ha)

No data

No data

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These statistics are sourced from FAO Aquastat. They are the most recent available information in the Aquastat database. More information on the derivation and interpretation of these statistics can be seen on the FAO Aquastat website.

Geology

The geology map shows a simplified version of the geology at a national scale.

More information on the geology of Burundi is available in the report UN (1988), and in reports from work carried out by BGR and BRGM, including a map of groundwater potential of Burundi (see References section, below).

Geology of Burundi at 1:5 million scale. Based on map described by Persits et al. 2002/Furon and Lombard 1964. For more information on the map development and datasets see the geology resource page.

Summary

The geology of Burundi is dominated by Precambrian basement rocks. In the west, these mainly comprise metasedimentary rocks intruded by granites, while in eastern and central parts, the geology is dominated by quartzite, schist and gneiss.

Geological environments

Key formations

Period

Lithology

Unconsolidated

Alluvium and lake sediments

Cenozoic

Unconsolidated sediments primarily infilling the tectonic valley of the Western Rift; also alluvial sediments along rivers and lakes which form smaller outcrops that are too small to be shown on this map.

Volcanic rocks

Cenozoic

Basaltic rocks outcrop in the extreme north-west of Burundi (not mapped at this scale).

Metasedimentary rocks, largely schist and quartzite, which outcrops in the south-east and overlies the Burundian.

Hydrogeology

The hydrogeology map below shows a simplified version of the type and productivity of the main aquifers at a national scale (see the hydrogeology map resource page for more details). More information is available in the report UN (1988) and in reports from the work carried out by BGR and BRGM, which includes a map of the groundwater potential of Burundi (see References section, below).

Unconsolidated

Aquifer Productivity

Named Aquifers and General Description

Water quantity issues

Water quality issues

Recharge

Variable Productivity

Unconsolidated sedimentary deposits largely consist of alluvial sands, silts, gravels and clays, forming narrow aquifers along river valleys and terrace deposits along Lake Tanganyika. Aquifer properties are variable, depending largely on lithology, but where the alluvium is dominated by coarser grained deposits, storage capacity and transmissivity may be high. Sediments are only sufficiently thick to form productive aquifers on the Moso Plain in south Burundi and Imbo Valley in west Burundi (Gutierrez & Barrat, 2016).

Recharge is generally high due to close connection with rivers and wetlands.

Volcanic

Aquifer Productivity

Named Aquifers and General Description

Water quantity issues

Water quality issues

Recharge

Moderate Productivity

Little is known about groundwater in the volcanic rocks, which are largely basaltic lava flows.

Fractured Basement

Aquifer Productivity

Named Aquifers and General Description

Water quantity issues

Water quality issues

Recharge

Variable Productivity

The productivity of fractured basement rocks depends on the localised nature and extent of fracturing, and the presence and thickness of a weathered zone. Due to tectonic activity, the basement can be well fractured, with boreholes appropriately sited in fault zones indicating transmissivities of 100 - 1000 m2/day. A thick weathered zone, which can be up to 100 m over granite and schist basement rocks, can also provide significant storage. Fracturing can, however, compartmentalise an aquifer which can affect the long-term sustainable yield of a borehole. This is the case, for example, in Gitega in Central Burundi.

Borehole yields up to 20 m3/hour have been reported in the weathered zone of the Kirundo granites.

Borehole yields up to 60 m3/hour have been reported from fracture zones in Gitega schisto-quartzite formation, however, compartmentalization of the aquifer means these abstraction rates are not likely to be sustainable.

Groundwater use and management

Groundwater use

Records in 2005 showed that at one point there were at least 35,000 developed natural springs in Burundi tapping groundwater for water supply, and 811 groundwater-based drinking water systems (likely to be drilled or dug wells equipped with hand pumps), but that most of these were non-functional (African Development Bank 2005). Lack of infrastructure development means there has been relatively little borehole drilling for water supply. In rural areas it is likely that people make use of groundwater from hand dug wells, possibly on a seasonal basis, as well as the numerous natural springs.

Groundwater management

Years of political instability have contributed to Burundi's water sector being in very poor state.

Several government bodies share responsibility for water resources and supplies. This can cause poor coordination of planning and water resource development, with competition in the allocation of water between sectors. The institutions involved include (USAID 2010):

- The Directorate General for Water and Energy of the Ministry of Water, Energy and Mines, which leads overall water policy formulation

- The Directorate of Water Resources (DRH), which develops and maintains the national water master plan

- The Directorate General of Rural Water and Electricity(DGHER), which oversees rural drinking water and sanitation

- The Water and Electric Authority ((REGIDESO), which is responsible for urban service provision

- Communal Water Authorities, which are responsible for rural service provision and linked to District Users committees (African Development Fund 2005).

General improvement of water supplies in Burundi is a policy and development priority, and the urgency of this task means that there is a broad focus on all aspects of water resources and supply. Policies are focussed on implementing the principles of community based management and integrated water resource management (IWRM).

There is an attempt by government and some donors to encourage the development of the small amount of private sector involvement in the water sector. In 2005, the African Development Fund estimated there were 30 private consultancy firms in Burundi active in water services, such as borehole drilling.

A database which in 2009 had limited information about groundwater sources. A GTZ-supported project included work to develop a central database at the national water authority.